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01-03-2015 | Original Article

Estimation of stature and sex from sternal lengths: an autopsy study

Authors: Goksin Nilufer Yonguc, Ayse Kurtulus, Onur Bayazit, Esat Adiguzel, Ilker Unal, Sumeyra Demir, Kemalettin Acar

Published in: Anatomical Science International | Issue 2/2015

Abstract

The aim of this study was to derive regression equations for estimating stature and further to estimate sex from four measured sternal lengths. This study included intact sterna from 65 males and 30 females, aged between 25 and 40 years, obtained during medico-legal autopsies. Stature and four sternal lengths, length of the manubrium (LM), length of the body (LB), length of the manubrium and body (LMB) and total sternal length, of each cadaver were measured. Stature and all measured sternal lengths were greater in males compared to females (p < 0.001). All sternal lengths were positively correlated with stature in sexes. LMB had the highest correlation coefficient in both males and females (correlation coefficient: 0.721 and 0.740, respectively). In both sexes, linear regression analysis for stature estimation revealed equations with the highest R ² values when derived from LMB (R ² = 0.521 for males and R ² = 0.547 for females). On the other hand, only the multiple linear regression equation derived from the combination of the LB and LMB had the higher R ² value (R ² = 0.640) for stature estimation in females. Receiver-operating curve analysis for all measurements was statistically significant (p < 0.05 for all). These findings suggested that measured sternal lengths can be used for estimation of sex. However, LB and LMB measurements were found to be the most reliable sternal lengths for estimating sex with an accuracy rate of 90 %. Our results revealed that the sternum is a useful tool for estimating stature and sex when other skeletal bones are not available.

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Title: Estimation of stature and sex from sternal lengths: an autopsy study
Authors: Goksin Nilufer Yonguc
Ayse Kurtulus
Onur Bayazit
Esat Adiguzel
Ilker Unal
Sumeyra Demir
Kemalettin Acar
Publication date: 01-03-2015
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Anatomical Science International / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 1447-6959
Electronic ISSN: 1447-073X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-014-0235-0

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Estimation of stature and sex from sternal lengths: an autopsy study

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